PHA President & CEO Kelvin Jeremiah (second
from right) was joined (from left) by Congressman Bob Brady, HELP
USA President & CEO Tom Hameline, and City Council President
Darrell Clarke at a groundbreaking ceremony for the HELP's
fifth Philadelphia development. The historic Spring Garden School
at 845 N. 12th Street will be rehabilitated and turned into
affordable housing for veterans and seniors. PHA, which owns the
building and has leased it to HELP USA for 99 years, will subsidize
all the units with project based vouchers worth $9.5 million for
the next 20 years.

(September 23, 2016) Philadelphia - The
Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) and HELP USA held a
groundbreaking ceremony today to unveil plans to convert the former
Spring Garden School in North Philadelphia into 37 units of
affordable housing for seniors and veterans. The announcement
marked a significant chapter for the historic building, which has
been vacant for four decades.
HELP USA has entered into a 99-year ground lease with the
Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) at the former Spring Garden
School located in North Philadelphia.

HELP USA's fifth site in Philadelphia, the building is being
renovated into 37 apartments for low-income seniors with a
preference for veterans. Twelve of the housing units will be
occupied by homeless veterans. PHA is investing $9.5 million over
the next 20 years and HELP has secured $13.7 million in public and
private funding to make the project possible.

"HELP USA has been working on Philadelphia for almost 20 years.
This will give us about $56 million in capital investment for
low-income housing and special needs housing in the city of
Philadelphia," said Tom Hameline, President and CEO, HELP USA.
"With the help of folks here, we can do a lot more work and will be
very proud to do so."

"I am proud that HELP USA and our partners are able to turn an
eyesore into an opportunity to help veterans and low-income
families," said David Cleghorn, Senior Vice President of Real
Estate Development at HELP. "The redevelopment of the Spring Garden
School, a classic-looking Philadelphia landmark, is the result of a
true collaborative effort to preserve affordable housing in this
rapidly developing neighborhood."

"I'm excited to have this in our district," said Darrell Clarke,
President, Philadelphia City Council. "This wonderful supportive
housing in our neighborhood shows the veterans that we will never
forget all of their service, and the lives they have given in
combat and in keeping our country safe. I look forward to a year
from now when we cut the ribbon and see these wonderful
apartments."

"In a time of shrinking resources, it is necessary for PHA to
partner with like-minded organizations to fulfill the need of
affordable housing. I want to commend HELP USA for its
commitment to housing the country's most vulnerable," said Kelvin
A. Jeremiah, President & CEO of PHA. "The rehabilitation of
this building, which has stood vacant for years, will mark the end
of the last derelict structure in the Richard Allen community. We
are extremely gratified to be able to help bring this vision to
reality."

"I want to build a lot more of these facilities. This is what
we're supposed to be doing in this business. We have men and women
who made a lot of sacrifices for us, and these veterans have to
come home to something; they deserve a place to stay when they
return home. We need to let them know that we care for them, and
that we have to provide them with a place to live with dignity,"
said Congressman Robert Brady (1st District of Pennsylvania).

The PHA-owned property has been vacant since the 1970s. It was
added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
The $14.5 million capital project is being financed by Historic and
Low Income Housing Tax Credits, philanthropic dollars, debt, and
HELP USA funds. Work began at the site on August 1 and is expected
to conclude by mid-2017, with individuals and families moving in
later that year.

Situated between the full-service Drexel Community Health Center
and PHA's John F. Street Community Center, the building will
feature a rooftop garden and playground, as well as on-site
services provided by HELP USA. Services will include healthcare,
counseling, employment, and youth services delivered by Drexel
University and other community partners.